Really? I mean REALLY? It is hard for me to imagine being alone. Maybe I’m odd because when I think “alone” I think without God. Now, if I took more time to be alone with God, then I’m sure my life would be different… in a good way. That’s the challenge, daily, hourly, and with each minute: finding time to really communicate with God without the distractions of the world around me. Not the ticking of the clock, or the dog breathing in and out, or the car driving by outside.

“No one is like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.  Who should not revere you, O King of the nations?  This is your due.  Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you.” – Jeremiah 10:6-7, NIV

In His service,
Keith

This morning I read this quote -

“The impulse of love that leads us to the doorway of a friend is the voice of God within and we need not be afraid to follow it.”
–Agnes Sanford

Having the thoughts that I have this morning, the real question is to what doorways does God desire me to go if I am to grow His kingdom? What corners of the earth am I willing to go to? Who am I willing to show His love to? Only the doorways of friends?

Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

What am I doing to prepare myself for the words of Matthew 25: 37-38 – “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

When I first read this I thought, of course, of myself and how I could be that person for someone. Silly me. Selfish me. Then I thought of Christ. Therein lies the challenge, to encourage others in the confidence that Christ is there with understanding. The absence of this confidence would seem to be the absence of faith.

May you all find the confidence that you are not alone, and share that with others who struggle to feel the same.

Still, why, God, those words for me this morning? Ah, the day is young and perhaps He will reveal for me His desire.

Through a strange twist, I found this quote this morning. Sure, it isn’t Easter, but what day isn’t a day for celebrating the risen Lord? Come on, we sang “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” at church this last Sunday, and while it felt odd at first, it was a great song for any day.

When I think of being Christ-like, usually what I conjure up is His perfection, His knowledge, His ability, His compassion. And, as Winter’s words reminded me: His time. But this morning it was not in terms of the timing of things that happen when I want. It was more of how I easily think of time in a linear fashion only. A cause and affect. For example, I pray after this or that happens. But my pondering this morning is could I pray for someone in the midst of a situation they already went through? Situations for which I at the time of my prayer I do not know the outcome. Well, what happens with those prayers?

For example, last week I know someone who had surgery. I do not know the very minute that the knife began its work, but I was praying for a successful surgery. At some point my prayers for a successful surgery may have happened after the actual surgery. Are my prayers then meaningless prayers? Or suppose I am praying for a friend or relative across the country to find comfort in the hours before they go to be with the Lord. Although I do not know that they have already passed. Again, what of my prayers?

I want to and will believe that those prayers matter. I do not have to understand how. But my God, my omnipresent God, who is not bound by time, is a compassionate God. One who listens to the prayers of His people, even ones like me. He already knows my prayers of tomorrow and the next day.

“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” – Isaiah 65:24

What I find AMAZING also is that I found myself reading 1 Thessalonians as I pondered things this morning. Verse 16 and 17 speak of rejoicing always and praying without ceasing. Then verse 18 – “in everything give thanks”. AWESOME!

Uh, this one hit a good spot. Personally, while I often think about God, He is much more real to me when I feel Him around me, inside me, flowing through me. He is the living God. Thinking about God doesn’t necessarily invoke a response from me, but when I feel God, how can I not act?

Last night I spent quite a bit of time thinking and writing about the quote above. This morning I got to my computer, selected it all, and hit the delete key.

The angle that I was looking at it from last night was one of comparing my strengths with those of others. To other writers. To other carpenters. To others who have walked in the ministry of God. Does God compare me to Langston Hughes? Or to Frederich Buechner? Or to Bob Villa?

But this morning I woke up with Philippians 2:3 running through the front of my mind -
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

For me, I think God wanted me to do one thing: be aware of how I am ignorant of the strengths of others by focusing on their weaknesses, by focusing on first impressions, by judging them. He wanted me to focus on being of encouragement. What it is about is seeing others as better because of their unique strengths that God has given them, helping others to use their strengths. When I do not help others to recognize or be confident in their God-given abilities, I fail my Lord and Savior. Encourage others to recognize what God has blessed them with, even when they struggle to do so. And no, that isn’t always easy. Some do not want to be encouraged, but that does not mean I stop trying. If I truly see another through God’s eyes, really see their God-given potential, why would I stop reaching out to them?

Personally, I am blessed by so many who have encouraged me by their words pointing to my abilities. (Thank you so much). Were it not for those words, I doubt I would continue to write. This morning I reignited my purpose in writing – to encourage others. In encouraging others, I have found out a lot about myself along the way. In giving I have received.

Colossians 2:2-3 -
“My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

WOW! So much comes from simple encouragement!
–

In His service,
Keith

I do not know of this Father Congreve, but as I think on his words this morning I am overwhelmed with love, with hope. I know I am loved, by the actions and words and prayers from others (thank you). And by some small measure I hope that I reflect that love to others, onto others. And in doing so maybe spread love where there was none or little before. Who did Jesus seek out? Do I seek out others who are easy for me to love or…? Is it possible to exist without love and yet have hope?

As I reread Congreve’s words yet again, “having nothing TO love” jumps out at me. Very interesting use of words because I think what I had pictured more was a soul that is unloved. Love coming in, when Congreve is actually looking outward. While I am not an theological or philosophical expert it would seem it to me that to love others would almost be a natural inclination for men and women. It would seem to me, in my naive view, that for someone to choose or be incapable of loving others would be the cause of something dramatic in their life, or something awry biologically, or something demonic.

So, after all of this, I find myself rereading 1 Corinthians 13 – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+13&version=NIV

Love is why you and I are here, because we are loved, and because we are to show love. At the end of the day: LOVE. Yes, my neighbor, my fellow believer, but also the unloved and unlovable, my enemies, and those who I might just walk by.

For some reason I wanted to listen to, to watch the “I have a dream” speech, but instead I was led to the one I saw below. Words that I remember, but have not listened to near enough. Words from the day before Dr. King was assassinated. Words of encouragement, of hope, of love.

May you love others today, in a new way.

–

In His service,
Keith

Hmm. This got me thinking and looking at the world around me. How many times do I look around or listen and think to myself, “I can’t believe that ___ just got away with that.” Whether half way around the world or right before my eyes. It could be in sports, in politics, in the church, on the street. People say and do things that I shake my head at in disbelief. Sometimes it is I, chief among sinners. Remember the other day when I talked about choices? Wickedness has so many forms, as can be seen by the choices that I make, that you make.

As I reread that particular Psalm again, Psalm 37:7, I find myself questioning the waiting part. What does it mean when it is the man in the mirror who succeeds in wickedness?

I encourage you, today, as you have time, to read all of Psalm 37, for it helped me to answer my own question. Two simple words I remember from a friend, Mark Iblings: “Good stuff.” He would say that often as he looked up from reading and contemplating the word of God.

If you so desire, you can read Psalm 37 here – http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2037&version=NIV.

“The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.” – Psalm 37:39

May God bless you abundantly today with patience and stillness.